Mover's Guide: Maine

August 10, 2010

Bureau of Elections: 207-624-7736

I moved from the address at which I am registered. What should I do?

I moved from another state.

If you moved to Maine from another state, you must register to vote in Maine to be able to vote.[1] You can register in person at the registrar’s office at any time up to and including Election Day, as long as you show proof of identity and residence.[2] If you do not register in person at the registrar’s office, the last day to register in time to vote in the next election is twenty-one days before the election.[3]

If you moved from out of state, you may register to vote the same day you become a resident of the State of Maine.[4]

I moved within Maine.

If you moved to a new address within the same municipality, you should submit a written notice that you have changed address in order to update.[5] If you moved to a new municipality within the state, you should complete a new registration form to update your registration records.[6]

The election is right around the corner and I never updated my registration from my previous address. What should I do?

If you moved to a new address within the same jurisdiction since you last voted, you should contact your local election office to determine whether your registration is current and to find out the location of your current polling place. Election officials may have changed your registration record to reflect your new address even if you did not notify the election official about the move.[7] If your registration information has been changed to your current address, you should go to the polling place associated with that address to vote.

Because Maine has Election Day registration, many registered Maine voters who move are still entitled to cast a ballot that will be counted — even if they did not notify the appropriate election official about their move before Election Day.[8]

Scenario One: New Address, but Same Municipality

If you moved within your municipality, you can change your address on your registration in person at the registrar’s office during the hours that the polls are open on Election Day.[9] After changing your address, the registrar will give you a certificate that you can take to the polling place for your new address and vote.[10]

Scenario Two: New Address in a New Municipality

You can register to vote in person on Election Day at the registrar’s office for your new municipality during the hours that the polls are open. If you register on Election Day, you will receive a certificate to take to the new polling place, be added to the list of voters, and vote.[11]